Chang–Yi_dialects
New Xiang
Family of Chinese dialects
New Xiang, also known as Chang-Yi (simplified Chinese: 长益片; traditional Chinese: 長益片; pinyin: Chǎng Yì piàn; lit. 'Changsha and Yiyang subgroup') is the dominant form of Xiang Chinese. It is spoken in northeastern areas of Hunan, China adjacent to areas where Southwestern Mandarin and Gan are spoken. Under their influence, it has lost some of the conservative phonological characteristics that distinguish Old Xiang. While most linguists follow Yuan Jiahua in describing New Xiang as a subgroup of Xiang Chinese,[1] Zhou Zhenhe and You Rujie classify it as Southwestern Mandarin.[2][3] However, New Xiang is still very difficult for Mandarin speakers to understand, particularly the old style of New Xiang.